Protestors say Walmart will ruin Chinatown culture and local businesses
Michael Katz / KPCC
Glenn Kinball shows his disdain for Walmart. Protestors said the company does not properly pay employees.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Chants of “No Walmart” rang clear in Chinatown Wednesday afternoon as dozens of protestors rallied to stop the building of proposed store on the corner of Caesar Chavez and Grand.
The new Walmart store is designed to be just 33,000 square-feet on the ground floor of a residential complex for seniors. This would make it a “Neighborhood Store” rather than one of its typical big box super centers.
Still, Chinatown residents feel that the things they love about the community will be severely hurt by the store. Protesters, armed with signs reading “Walmart-How the 1% hurts 99%” lined up behind several speakers, including congresswoman Judy Chu, who spoke of the havoc that Walmart is bound to bring Chinatown residents and the community.
“Because Walmart is able to get its low prices and sell its cake for $1.99, [nearby] businesses will go out of business,” Chu predicted. She suggested that instead of a Walmart Neighborhood Store, a grocery store would be more practical for an area that is sorely lacking a nearby supermarket.
“Of course I think that there is a need for a grocery store, and I think that there should have been a more extensive search and incentives to try and get one in there,” Chu said. “Walmart has this global empire and they have been able to exploit people all across the world.”
Girshriela Green, a Walmart employee for the past three-and-a-half years, said that while such a large business would provide jobs for people, they are not jobs that pay enough for one to successfully live off of. As a manager of the health and beauty section of her store, she said that she makes just $9.80 an hour. She says that she cannot afford to leave, though, and will reluctantly keep working there.
“We’re still dependent on welfare, food stamps, and we work,” Green explained. “Yet, we still don’t make ends meet … They sell dreams that’s not real. It’s not the American way.”
Tanira Chau, 18, who has been a resident of Chinatown her entire life, said that part of what makes the neighborhood great is its close-knit feeling and the fact that everyone shops together at local stores.
“Growing up here, it’s very much like a close family because all the kids go to school together, and so we go to all the same shops, same supermarkets,” Chau said. “If Walmart’s here, it’s like ‘Let’s just go to Walmart and get something’ … it’s bringing our culture down.”
Satitthuvamon Tolrat, who works at the Sorrento liquor store just down the street from where the Walmart Neighborhood Store is planned to go, said the store he works at could suffer greatly.
“They will come here and hurt all the businesses around here,” Tolrat said. “We are the mom-and-pop stores and they are the big chain. They have more power for inventory and sell [products] cheaper. But we can’t compete with them.”
Another protest is planned for June 30 at 10 a.m. at the Los Angeles Historic Park. Several thousand are expected to attend.
The rally comes on the same day that Walmart announced it will give an $800,000 grant to the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. The grant is set to provide 447 jobs for local youth during the summer.
“We know that providing access to job opportunities and skills training during the summer months will allow students to return to school healthy, prepared and ready to succeed,” Walmart Foundation president Sylvia Mathews Burwell said in a statement.
Brady Westwater (@bradywestwater) on June 14, 2012, at 08:48AM – #1
Not that anyone seems to be interested in the truth on this issue, but the neighborhood this building is in can be called many things. But - it is not Chinatown.
And this building as built to house a supermarket to serve this area over twenty years ago - and has been vacant since then since no other market has ever been willing to come in and serve this area.
Corey Incognito now (@CTincognito) on June 14, 2012, at 09:23AM – #2
Yes, keep protesting this building that's been vacant for many years, to preserve the liquor stores, Burger Kings, CVS stores, Subways, and all the other "local" businesses in this "Chinatown" area that isn't really Chinatown. What will the check cashing stores do now? How will they survive? This protest is absurd.
downtown vibe on June 14, 2012, at 09:10PM – #3
Not only is this not Chinatown, the Councilman has outright lied to the community about his reasons for blocking this store. The Unions have bought off this councilman. Period.
He is paid to stop Walmart because they refuse to unionize.
It was embarrassing to hear the Councilman claim that putting up the Walmart sign on that building would harm the character of the intersection.
Let's look at that intersection now.
A senior housing building that was tacky when it was designed in the 80's. Its got a ground floor that has been empty for 20 years because No grocery store would move into this redevelopment area.
A Burger King with a drive thru...nothing says Chinatown like a Burger King.
And a concrete monstrosity of a high school that would look more at home at the bottom of an aquarium then in "Chinatown".
I tried to tell the Councilman how I felt, but I don't think he could hear me with all the crap coming out of his ears.....
MindlessMind (@MindlessMind) on June 14, 2012, at 09:45PM – #4
For anyone wondering- that's me in the picture with the mask (although they got my last name wrong.)
After signing up with the LA Union, you got a large poster advertising the event "Walmart How the 1% hurts the 99%" (I added a colon on mine, it bothered me.) Then they got everyone that had a poster to stand behind the podium where people would be speaking for the press conference- except me. I didn't have the "look" they were going for.
Excuse me? You use language like "1% hurts the 99%" and don't expect anyone from Occupy to show up? Are you kidding?
Joke's on them because I'm featured on this article anyway. Don't get me wrong, I feel strongly that Wal-Mart is a terrible company and should be torn down- thus the sign. But this press conference showed me how little people were interested in real change. They wanted Wal-Mart to "change" and to be more "respectful" or something like that.
I tried to speak with congresswoman Judy Chu after she spoke to a few reporters, including the one who wrote this article, about her voting record. I decided to start off tame, and ask about why she voted for the war in Iran. She responded that she didn't, and as I informed her about the contents of the NDAA FY2013 that she indeed voted Yes on, her aide pointed at her watch and said they had to go. I requested a picture, to which the congresswoman replied "I don't really want to take a picture with you anyway"
Again, how could you come to something like this, and expect no one to ask a hard question? The mainstream media's made politicians soft, they don't ask any tough questions.
Occupy LA!
_MindlessMind
John G on June 14, 2012, at 09:47PM – #5
I totally agree with the commentors here. This place is NOT Chinatown and WAL-MART WILL NOT destroy Chinatown. For the majority of us people, the heart of Chinatown is Broadway. The store location several blocks up northwest will not be a fatal blow to the cultural heritage of this place. Do people actually think that the shelves of Wal-Mart (whose products are mostly made in China anyways) will take away the business from those on Broadway and Hill streets? Give me a break!
Many people who frequent this area are not only locals, but visitors and tourists as well. No one is going to walk or drive several blocks away and shop at Wal-Mart instead of experiencing Chinatown. Wal-Mart doesn't have all the unique and interesting trinkets that the vendors on Broadway sell. People go to Chinatown for the experience. The new Wal-Mart will only be an added convenience, an extra option for ALL PEOPLE to choose and decide where they can shop ( for the time and convenience they are willing to seek).
We have always lived in SPRAWLVILLE, with everything so SPREAD OUT. And the protestors crying about this crap will only insure that our communities will only be further stuck with LONG WALKS OR DRIVING. This store will fill in an unoccupied space that has been underutilized for years. It will allow more walkability and options for the people living there.
These protestors should be ashamed of themselves for such short-sightedness!!!
Simon Ha on June 16, 2012, at 12:13AM – #6
This part of the neighborhood needs a supermarket. Whether it's Walmart, Superior, Ralph's, or Trader Joe's, to the neighbors, it's a much needed grocery store in their community - all politics aside.
The economic justice views on whether low skilled jobs should be compensated with middle class wages… That’s an endless debate.
What is important to this part of downtown is pedestrian oriented access to basic needs so residents don’t have to drive their cars to Silverlake, Little Tokyo, or Pico Union to get their groceries. Especially with many senior housing in this area, it makes all the sense for a low priced grocery store at this location.
The Dude on June 16, 2012, at 04:37PM – #7
The only supermarket that has any business being near Chinatown is 99 Ranch.
downtown vibe on June 17, 2012, at 12:12PM – #8
Ed Reyes, Councilman for the 1st District, needs to called out, when he is caught lying to his constituents.
There is an election coming. This may be an excellent wake-up call to those living in this district.
CD1 is a prime target for Latino politicians connected to organized crime.
As legal residents of CD1, I hope you will help keep criminals from using this Council District to corrupt the City Council.
The Councilperson is elected to represent the people of the District first. He should not use the seat to steal public funds for his friends, family, crooked business partners, unions, or developers who pay to get him elected.
Good Luck!
Downtowner on June 18, 2012, at 07:34AM – #9
FYI, the headline and first paragraph of this story spell "protesters" as "protestors."
Downtowner on June 18, 2012, at 07:35AM – #10
... likewise, some of the photo captions.
Shaddy Zeineddine on June 20, 2012, at 01:56PM – #11
Wal-Mart is not a grocery store, and it's no place to buy food. If a grocery store is what is needed in the area. Work with a grocery store to move into the building!
Also, just because there is a Burger King, Jack in the Box, and other disgusting eye-sores in the neighborhood does not justify adding more. It doesn't matter if it's Chinatown, Downtown, Echo Park, or somewhere in between--Wal-Mart is not good for these communities. And yes, Wal-Mart will take away from Chinatown businesses. Not every store there sells souvenirs to tourists. There are small markets and stores that sell everyday products to local residents.
Why does it matter if a corrupt councilmember also happens to be on side against Wal-Mart? That's great. Let's put him to good use.
TODOSSOMOSPUTOS (@TODOSSOMOSPUTOS) on June 20, 2012, at 03:01PM – #12
Hmmm.... an array of useful stuff made in China sold at Wal-Mart vs. an array of touristy stuff made in China sold at 1,000 little stores. I don't shop at Wal-Mart because their stuff is crap and their company reeks of "bloated American" but that applies to a lot of corporations who pay their workers the least they can - like many restaurants in Chinatown.
There's an abundance of empty real estate in Chinatown. If a grocery store is really desired, there sure is ample space in which to house one.
John G on June 23, 2012, at 11:55PM – #13
Shaddy, I will have to disagree with you.
I think you really misunderstand the dynamics of urban living and the economical factors that come into play. Right now, the only business in this economy willing to set up shop in this location is Walmart. Perhaps you should invest your own money here and see if you can take a go at it. Otherwise, let the market run itself.
Sure, not every store on Broadway or Hill (or any other Chinatown place) sells things to tourists. But do you really think everyone will flock to Walmart? Does Walmart have everything that these stores currently sell? I've been BOTH to Chinatown AND Walmart many times. There are so many variety of items with different price points based on quality, not to mention convenience and time that people will have to decide based on distances to each store.
Please, let's give power to the residents of Chinatown. They will have more options and walkability. This in return will attract more residents and provide more economic activity that will provide MORE OPPORTUNITIES for all of these stores.
We need to stop thinking like a bedroom community SUBURB. This is DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES, A GLOBAL CITY!!!